Deadly citrus disease found in Oceanside

A quarantine has been declared in northern San Diego County after a deadly citrus disease was detected in Oceanside.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture reported that two residential citrus trees in Oceanside were found to be infected with huanglongbing, or HLB, also known as citrus greening. The disease, carried by the Asian citrus psyllid, poses a mortal threat to California's $2 billion-plus citrus business. But, as of Friday, the disease hadn't been confirmed in a commercial citrus grove in California.

The quarantine covers 60 square miles around the detection site. Citrus fruit, trees and related plant material may not be transported out of the area except for commercially cleaned and packed fruit.

The quarantine area is bordered on the north by Vandergrift Boulevard at Camp Pendleton, on the south by Carlsbad Village Drive, on the east by Melrose Drive and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. CDFA said it will survey a 250-meter radius around the detection site for any additional signs of the disease and the Asian citrus psyllid.

A map of the quarantine area may be found at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/citrus/pests_diseases/hlb/regulation.html.